Paul Heaton

It was a midweek trip to London with the usual suspects Neil and Hammy, plus the excellent addition of Jimmy Simmonds and a little cameo from the McKinnons, for my fifteenth Paul Heaton concert. I’ve been to five concerts with The Beautiful South and ten more in various post-group stages of his thirty-eight (and rising) year chart career.

A couple of pints and a plate of grub before heading to the venue meant we only caught the tail end of The Zutons, which was a shame. But ultimately, we were there for Mr. Heaton and to see him showcase his decades-long career with hits from The Housemartins to The Beautiful South and beyond.

The sold-out crowd was treated to a magical evening of romantic pop melodies and soulful storytelling, with Heaton’s impeccable vocals still as strong as ever, and at times the best they’ve ever been. Joined by Rianne Downey, who was a breath of fresh air, she took on the roles performed by previous female vocalists and handled everything impeccably.

She seemed to be the happiest person in the world at that moment, and I believe that whichever direction her career takes her, she will be a name we hear a lot from in the years to come. The dynamic duo captivated the audience with their energy and charm.

From the emotional dedication of “I’ll Sail This Ship Alone” to the infectious energy of “Happy Hour,” the night was a rollercoaster of emotions and sing-along hits. Heaton’s witty banter and genuine connection with his fans made the show feel intimate and special, with moments like “Rotterdam”, “Perfect 10” and “Caravan Of Love” bringing the crowd to their feet.

At 62 years old, Paul Heaton proved that he is still a force to be reckoned with, leaving everyone in the audience eager for the next opportunity to witness his musical magic once again (Sheffield in May 2025 for me). Negatives: Me being poorly and people congregating on the stairs through the show and a few who seemed more interested in chatting to each other rather than enjoy watching a legend. Positives: It’s Paul Heaton. Seeing Rianne perform so well and give Paul a new lease of life and listening to songs from the early Housemartins library I’d never seen performed live before.